Interactionist theories of crime and deviance

They reject them seeing them as just a social construction. They suggest they understimate the extent of crime due to under-reporting of white collar crime and cybercrime, under-recording, selective law enforcement and artificial fluctuations.

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What do Interactionists suggest about the social construction of crime?

Becker claims that what we count as crime and deviance is based on subjective decisions made me the agents of social control. Due to it being socially created it varies of time and across cultures. 'Deviance is in the eye of the beholder'

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What do Interactionists suggest about the labelling process?

Becker argues whether a deviant is labelled depends on who saw the act and committed it. Powerless are more likely to be labelled. Deviance is amplified by a label, it can become a master status, lead to a deviant career + self-fulfilling prophecy

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What does Lemert suggest about primary and secondary deviance?

Primary deviance that has not been labelled has little consequences. Secondary deviance it impacts the individual.

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Describe the mass media and deviancy amplification

The media amplify crime, demonise deviants and create moral panics. (Stan Cohen- mods and rockers, football hooligans and single parents)

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Strengths of Interactionist theories

Generate subsequent research and has gained emprical and theoretical support.

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Weakneses of Interactionist theories

Too readily to dismiss official statistics, Fails to explain why the nature and extent of crime is socially constructed and it is debatable of whether the criminal justice system leads to a career of deviance.

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Front

What do Interactionists suggest about the social construction of crime?

Back

Becker claims that what we count as crime and deviance is based on subjective decisions made me the agents of social control. Due to it being socially created it varies of time and across cultures. 'Deviance is in the eye of the beholder'